At a Glance
- 2025 has become the deadliest year for journalists, with record assaults and killings worldwide.
- 126 media workers were killed in 2025, matching the total of 2024.
- 170 assaults on journalists in the U.S. this year, 160 by law enforcement.
- Why it matters: It signals a dangerous climate for press freedom and threatens public access to independent reporting.
The year 2025 has proven to be a watershed moment for journalism, marked by unprecedented violence, relentless attacks from the highest office, and a shrinking workforce.
Global Violence Against Media
Worldwide, the Committee to Protect Journalists reports 126 media industry people killed in 2025, matching the total of 2024. Israel’s bombing of Gaza accounted for 85 of those deaths, 82 of them Palestinians.
Jodie Ginsberg said:
> Unfortunately, it’s not just, of course, about the sheer numbers of journalists and media workers killed, it’s also about the failure to obtain justice or get accountability for those killings.
The committee estimates at least 323 journalists imprisoned worldwide, and the lack of accountability breeds further impunity. Jodie Ginsberg added:
> Impunity breeds impunity.
Domestic Assaults and Trump’s Role
In the United States, 170 assaults on journalists have been reported in 2025, 160 by law enforcement, largely linked to immigration enforcement coverage.
- 170 assaults
- 160 by law enforcement
- Many tied to immigration enforcement
Tim Richardson said:
> It’s safe to say this assault on the press over the past year has probably been the most aggressive that we’ve seen in modern times.
Trump’s hostility toward the press has escalated from verbal attacks to policy actions, including limiting AP access, suing news outlets, and cutting public broadcasting funding.
- AP sued over access restrictions
- Settlements with ABC and CBS
- Lawsuits against NYT and WSJ
- Funding cuts to PBS, NPR, and government-run broadcasters
Jodie Ginsberg said:
> The evisceration of Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America is another blow to press freedom globally.
Industry Decline and Resilience
The news industry has been in retrenchment for over two decades, with the number of journalists per 100,000 people falling from 40 in 2002 to just over 8 in 2025.
| Metric | 2002 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Journalists per 100,000 people | 40 | 8 |
Despite the downturn, new local outlets such as the Baltimore Banner, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Outlier Media are emerging.
- Baltimore Banner
- Charlottesville Tomorrow
- Outlier Media
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei acknowledges the challenges but highlights the continued influence of mainstream reporters.
> Over time, people will hopefully come to their senses and say, ‘Hey, the media like anything else is imperfect but, man, it’s a nice thing to have a free press.’
Key Takeaways
- 2025 marks the deadliest year for journalists with 126 deaths worldwide.
- U.S. assaults on reporters reach 170, largely by law enforcement.
- The newsroom workforce has shrunk to less than one-tenth of its 2002 level.
As violence and intimidation rise, the survival of independent journalism depends on resilience, new local voices, and the public’s demand for accountability.
